# David Dixon (actor)
**David Dixon** (born 1947) is an English actor and screenwriter, best known for playing Ford Prefect in the 1981 BBC television adaptation of *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/) He was born in Derby, Derbyshire, England, and grew up there until his family moved to Normanton in 1959.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/) • [2](https://prabook.com/web/david.dixon/2535682)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1947, Derby, Derbyshire, England, UK[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/) |
| Signature role | Ford Prefect in *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* (BBC, 1981), six episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/) |
| First screen role | Robert Ashton in *A Family at War* (1970)[3](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/david-dixon.html) |
| Acclaimed performance | Ariel in the BBC's 1980 television version of *The Tempest*[4](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/David_Dixon) |
| Other period roles | Prince John in *The Legend of Robin Hood* (1975); Prince Leopold in *Lillie* (1978)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/) |
| Return to Hitchhiker's | Voiced the Ecological Man and the Zirzla Leader in the 2005 radio "Quandary Phase"[4](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/David_Dixon) |
| Fan following | Online fans call themselves "Dixonites"[8](https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=53535.30) |
## Early life and first roles
Dixon was born in the Nightingale Maternity Home in Derby, near his father's shop on London Road, and the family moved to Normanton in 1959.[2](https://prabook.com/web/david.dixon/2535682) His first television role came in 1970 as Robert Ashton in the series *A Family at War*; [Barbara Flynn](https://www.edgepedia.org/barbara-flynn) starred alongside him in that series.[3](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/david-dixon.html)
Through the 1970s he worked steadily in British television. His credits from the decade include Hugh Lloyd in *Escort Girls* (1974), Andy Deacon in *The Sweeney* episode "Big Brother" (1975), Ozymandias Freemantle in the BBC *Play for Today* piece *Jumping Bean Bag* (1976), a PR man in *[Rock Follies](https://www.edgepedia.org/rock-follies)* (1976), Keith Horsey in *A Horseman Riding By* (1978), Prince Leopold in the miniseries *Lillie* (1978), and Clifford in *A Family Affair* (1979).[8](https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=53535.30) In 1975 he played Prince John in *The Legend of Robin Hood*, a five-episode miniseries.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/)
## The Tempest and Ford Prefect
**Ariel.** In 1980 Dixon played Ariel in the BBC television version of Shakespeare's *The Tempest*, a performance for which he received critical acclaim.[4](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/David_Dixon) He had also appeared in a stage production of *The Tempest* in 1973–74, listed among his other works.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/)
**Ford Prefect.** Dixon's most notable role came in 1981, when he starred as Ford Prefect in the six-episode BBC television series *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*, based on [Douglas Adams](https://www.edgepedia.org/douglas-adams)'s book of the same name.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/) The series follows Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect as they escape the destruction of Earth and travel through space and time.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/) Retrospective profiles credit his portrayal of the adventurous and enigmatic Ford, with its charm and humor, as contributing to the cult status of the adaptation.[5](https://www.archytele.com/person/david-dixon)
Dixon later returned to the Hitchhiker's universe in voice roles. In the "Quandary Phase" of the BBC radio series, adapted from the fourth book of Douglas Adams's trilogy, *So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish*, he played the minor characters the Ecological Man and the Zirzla Leader in the episode "Fit the Twentieth," while Geoffrey McGivern, who had originated Ford on radio, returned to the role.[4](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/David_Dixon) • [6](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/david_dixon/)
## Later career
IMDb lists 42 acting credits for him, running from the 1960s to a 2010 short, *The Magician's Wife*, in which he played Lawrence Patterson.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/) One filmography database counts 24 credits across 8 films and 16 television series, spanning 1965 to 2025, with 1975 his busiest year at three credits.[7](https://www.archytele.com/person/david-dixon/movies-and-tv-shows)
Despite what one profile describes as a relatively sparse television and film career, Dixon has acquired a loyal online fan following whose members call themselves "Dixonites."[8](https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=53535.30)
## References
1. [David Dixon (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228797/)
2. [David Dixon, Prabook biographical encyclopedia](https://prabook.com/web/david.dixon/2535682)
3. [David Dixon, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/david-dixon.html)
4. [David Dixon, Hitchhikers Fandom wiki](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/David_Dixon)
5. [David Dixon: Movies, TV Shows & Biography, Archytele](https://www.archytele.com/person/david-dixon)
6. [David Dixon, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/david_dixon/)
7. [David Dixon: Movies and TV Shows, Archytele filmography](https://www.archytele.com/person/david-dixon/movies-and-tv-shows)
8. [The BBC Hitchhiker's Guide TV Series - Page 2, cookdandbombd.co.uk](https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=53535.30)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames C to D*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license